The "Professor"

Teaching the students at Moffat College of Bible is proving to be an exciting, fun, rewarding, incredible, unique, blessed experience for both of us, but especially for Gene. The young people have taken to him easily. His accent to them and their accent to us has not been much of a barrier at all. And, they actually understand us better than we understand them, but we are developing a good ear for the Kenyan/British accent. The key is remembering that Kenyans generally put the accent on a different syllable of a word than we do, so once we figured that out, we are doing much better. Also, Kenyans speak very softly. They are not loud mouths like us Americans. So Gene told them that, because he's an old man, he doesn't hear as well anymore, so they need to talk louder so he can hear them.

I think we both wondered how well the students would understand the topic Gene was assigned to teach Creation and the Fall of Man. But they are doing very well. They are asking great questions in class, which then leads to some very good discussions. Students are now coming to Gene after class with questions, or are asking him to eat lunch with them to discuss things. And they actually understand American humor, and we've had some good laughs together in and out of class.




Last Thursday was mid-term exam day. Gene and I reviewed the questions of the exam carefully, evaluating whether they were worded clearly, from a Kenya perspective. We are pleased to report that the students did very well, and there was only one question that was confusing. He is very encouraged, and he gave them good encouragement the next day with the test results.


Our visits with the students to Mama Chiku's at the very start were very beneficial in establishing a rapport with them, and they enjoy the fact that I sit in on the class sessions and interject thoughts or ask questions myself. Several of the students told Gene they think it's a good teaching technique, though that wasn't the reason behind it. I just wanted to be there to be an encouragement to Gene, to learn the material myself, and to get to know the kids.




A view of the students in their classroom.






Here Gene meets with one of the student groups at Mama Chiku's. This actually is the first group we took there, who "broke the ice," so to speak, and asked if they could order stew and chipatis -- a treat that they don't get in the dining hall.


The students are great kids -- 8 guys (3 of whom are married), and 3 young ladies. They truly love the Lord, and most are attending Moffat at a great financial sacrifice. Pray for them as they prepare to go back to their people and teach them God's Word.